Preparing for a travel shoot

While there are several lists online on things to do to prepare for any trip and you bet have I got one of my own, but today I am going to discuss list of things to do for a travel shoot.

Travel as it is, is a very exciting experience for me. I simply get my highs thinking about what all things would I get to do/see/EAT (but of course). Equally exciting is to ponder on how am I going to ensure that all those beautiful memories are captured on the card in my Olympus E-330 camera for the one in my head ain’t that reliable. Apart from my diminutive experience on this, I have also received liberal tips from fellow travellers and read some in various photo magazines. I have compiled some of them below.

• Gadgets: If you are anything like me (read as an amateur yet wannabe photographer), you would probably have a DSLR with lens(es) and filter(s) and flash(es). It is important to stick to the age old adage of travelling light. Carry only as much equipment as you think is going to be necessary. If you are in a theatre and sitting twenty rows away from action, you may not need wide lens at all. Similarly a bulky 300mm tele lens might be unwarranted for when you decide to go to a nearby pub to catch in the festive Halloween atmosphere.
• When going gets tough, creative get going: Cost of changing lenses, weight of carrying units might be factors that you need to consider before you decide to carry that something extra. I have realised that I get more creative when faced with obstacles. To get a wide angle shot with tele, I use pano-stitching feature in WLPG, Autostitch. Some point and shoot have this feature inbuilt. I have not carried my camera charger for ages, I carry TWO spare batteries instead and shoot using optical viewfinder to cover 3-4 days of photography easily.
• Get prepared: Once you have decided on what all to carry, pack them in neat bags days in advance so that you do not forget them in a hurry. Forgetting your shades is nothing compared to forgetting your camera. Also make sure you have all your equipment ready. You might not have time or chance to charge your batteries or clean your lens while travelling. It is a good idea to keep a poly bag extra for your camera for rain/dust protection. If your trip involves a road/rail/air journey to reach the final destination, pack all your spare gadgets in and fit your camera with the lens (wide is a good option for this) that you are going to use during the journey.
• Be well informed: Now this sounds like a no-brainer but it is surprising how many times people start researching about their venue for travel only on the day of travel. Many famous spots require prior reservations or are open only on certain days and times of year. Beaches & mountains look good at sunrises and sunsets while a city centre has its own charm during night times. Still lot many venues require you to appear well ahead of schedule to be able to secure a vantage point. Kathakali dancers appear hours ahead of dance time to perform make-up which is equally interesting to watch/capture. Being a day early at McLeod Ganj cost us the opportunity to see Dalai Lama in person.
• Plan your time & stick to it: This kind of follows from above but is still important enough to be repeated. Remember your travel buddies would love you for waking them early or hurrying up things (no matter what they say initially) if you can ensure them good places to watch the ‘stuff’ from. A prime example is the flag exchange ceremony at Wagah border. Even though it happens daily and can seat thousands of people, still all the prime seats get occupied as much as TWO hours ahead of schedule. Similarly to see Kochi fishing nets working, you need to be up at 4am in the morning. No other time of the day would do !
• See through your trip: One last thing that I would leave you with is the ability to see through your trip. It sounds crazy but if you do it, you would not believe the immense yet unperceivable benefits that can be reaped. Booking your tickets on the same side of vehicle for a return journey allows you to enjoy scenes from both sides of the journey. If you are headed south on Konkan railways, take the seats on left to be able to watch Konkan coastline. If you are going to a famous place, check online for the cliché angles that photographers use to capture that place. You might wanna try capturing some new angles. You can yourself think of other such examples of seeing through.

Those were the tips from my side. Please share things that you do before you set off for any photo trip.

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